Methods of determining the location of a user in an area, and user location systems

ABSTRACT

A method of determining the location of a user in an area. A user requests a transmitting device from a transmitter providing device. The transmitter providing device associates an identification code with the user, and the transmitting device transmits that identification code. One or more of receiving devices receive the identification code transmitted by the transmitting device, and send details of the received identification code to the user location determining device. The user location determining device then determines the location of the user, using the received details from the one or more receiving devices.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns methods of determining the location of auser in an area, and user location systems. More particularly, but notexclusively, the invention concerns determining the location of a userin an area where the user has been provided with a transmitting device,using a plurality of receiving devices distributed in differentlocations within the area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It can be desirable to determine the location of a user in an area, forexample where the area is a quick service restaurant and the user is adining customer. In this case, the user may order their food from akiosk or other food-ordering location. When the user's food order isready, they may have to collect their order from an order-collectionlocation. However, this can be disadvantageous for a number of reasons.First, if users congregate near the order-collection location this cancause congestion, particularly if the order-collection location is alsothe food-ordering location. Second, users may prefer to move to aseating area while waiting for their order to be prepared. This meansthat a system is required to notify them when their order is ready, andthere is a risk that they will not become aware of such a notification.

An alternative solution that allows users to move to a seating areawhile waiting for their order is for each order made by a user to beassigned an order number. The user is then provided with a sign showingthe order number when they make their order, which they take with themto the seating area. When their order has been prepared, rather than theuser collecting the order from the order-collection location, it istaken to them at the seating area by a member of staff, with the memberof staff using the sign to identify the location of the user using theorder number. However, it can be time consuming and inefficient for thestaff member to find the user, particularly in a large seating area.

Similar disadvantages can arise where the area is a retail store and theuser is the customer, for example. In this case, the user may haveordered items and be visiting the store to collect them. When the user'sorder is ready, the user may have to collect their order from anorder-collection location. Similarly to the example above, users maycongregate near the order-collection location while waiting for theirorders to be ready, which can cause congestion. Additionally, users maywish to buy additional items and/or visit an area such as a coffee areawhile their order is being prepared.

The present invention seeks to solve and/or mitigate the above-mentionedproblems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks toprovide improved methods of determining the location of a user in anarea and user location systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of determining the location of a user in an area, using:

a transmitter providing device located at a first location;

a plurality of receiving devices distributed in different locationswithin the area; and

a user location determining device in communication with the pluralityof receiving devices;

wherein the method comprises the steps of:

a user at the first location requesting a transmitting device from thetransmitter providing device;

the transmitter providing device associating an identification code withthe user;

the transmitter providing device providing the user with a transmittingdevice, wherein the transmitting device transmits the identificationcode associated with the user;

the user moving to a second location with the transmitting device, thesecond location being within the area;

one of more of the receiving devices receiving the identification codetransmitted by the transmitting device;

the one or more receiving devices sending details of the receivedidentification code to the user location determining device; and

the user location determining device determining the location of theuser, using the received details from the one or more receiving devices.

In this way, a transmitting device can be provided to the user, whichthe user can then take to the second location. The user's location atthe second location can then be determined by the user locationdetermining device, using the identification code associated with theuser and transmitted by the transmitting device, which will be receivedby the one or more of the receiving devices that are distributed indifferent locations within the area.

The area may be a restaurant or part thereof, such as a quick servicerestaurant. The transmitter providing device may comprise a foodordering device that allows the user to make a food order.Alternatively, the food ordering device may be located in the firstlocation with, and in communication with, the transmitter providingdevice. In either case, the user can thus be providing with thetransmitting device when they make their food order. The first locationmay, but need not, be within the area. The transmitting device may bearranged to notify the user when their order is ready. For example, theuser location determining device may be notified that the user's orderis ready, and then communicate this to the transmitting device using theone or more receiving devices.

Alternatively, the area may be a retail store providing a“click-and-collect service”, i.e. a service using which a user canremotely order items, for example from their home via a website, andthen later collect their order from the retail store. In this case, thetransmitter providing device may comprise a check-in device that allowsthe user to notify the system that they are at the retail store tocollect their order.

The transmitter providing device may comprise a store of a plurality oftransmitting devices, and provides the user with a transmitting devicefrom the store of transmitters. In this case, advantageously thetransmitting devices of the store of transmitting devices are arrangedto not transmit an identification code when stored in the store oftransmitting devices. This allows the transmitting devices to conservebattery power when not in use, i.e. when their location does not need tobe determined. It also allows the transmitter providing device to obtainthe identification code by simply receiving the identification codetransmitted by a transmitting device when it leaves the store, as noneof the transmitting devices in the store will be transmitting anidentification code. The transmitter providing device may generate amagnetic field that is above a predetermined threshold at locationswithin the store of transmitting devices, and the transmitting devicesmay be arranged to transmit an identification code only when not withina magnetic field that is above the predetermined threshold.Advantageously, the transmitter providing device is arrange to rechargethe transmitting devices while in the store of transmitting devices. Inthis case, the transmitting devices are advantageously arranged to nottransmit an identification code while being recharged.

Preferably, the transmitter providing device dispenses the transmittingdevice from the store of transmitting devices to the user via adispensing slot. In this case, advantageously the method furthercomprises the steps of: one or more transmitting devices being insertedinto the dispensing slot of the transmitter providing device; and thetransmitter providing device storing the one or more transmittingdevices in the store of transmitting devices.

In an advantageous alternative, the transmitter providing deviceprovides an identification code to a mobile device presented to thetransmitter providing device, and wherein the mobile device withreceived identification code is the transmitting device provided to theuser. This means that no transmitting devices need to be speciallyprovided, as users can use their own mobile devices as the transmittingdevice. Preferably, the mobile device is a mobile telephone. Preferably,the mobile device communicates with the transmitter providing deviceusing Bluetooth. However, any other suitable method of communication maybe used.

Preferably, the transmitting device transmits the identification code tothe one of more of the receiving devices using Bluetooth. However, anyother suitable method of communication may be used.

Preferably, the user location determining device determines the locationof the user using the strength of the signal received from thetransmitting device by the one or more receiving devices.

Advantageously, the area comprises a plurality of potential userlocations, and the determined location of the user is one of theplurality of potential user locations. This allows the location of theuser to be determined more efficiently and accurately.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided auser location system for determining the location of a user in an area,comprising:

a transmitter providing device located at a first location;

a plurality of receiving devices distributed in different locationswithin the area; and

a user location determining device in communication with the pluralityof receiving devices;

wherein the transmitter providing device is arranged, in response to arequest from a user for a transmitting device, to associate anidentification code with the user, and to provide the user with atransmitting device, wherein the transmitting device is arranged totransmit the identification code associated with the user;

wherein the plurality of receiving devices are arranged to receive anidentification code transmitted by a transmitting device, and to senddetails of a received identification code to the user locationdetermining device;

and wherein the user location determining device is arranged todetermine the location of a user using received details from the one ormore receiving devices.

The transmitter providing device may comprise a store of a plurality oftransmitting devices, and be arranged to provide the user with atransmitting device from the store of transmitting devices. In thiscase, advantageously the transmitting devices of the store oftransmitting devices are arranged to not transmit an identification codewhen stored in the store of transmitting devices. The transmitterproviding device may generate a magnetic field that is above apredetermined threshold at locations within the store of transmittingdevices, and the transmitting devices may be arranged to transmit anidentification code only when not within a magnetic field that is abovethe predetermined threshold. Advantageously, the transmitter providingdevice is arrange to recharge the transmitting devices while in thestore of transmitting devices.

Preferably, the transmitter providing device is arranged to dispense thetransmitting device from the store of transmitting devices to the uservia a dispensing slot. In this case, advantageously the transmitterproviding device is further arranged to receive one or more transmittingdevices inserted into the dispensing slot and to store the one or moretransmitting devices in the store of transmitting devices.

In an advantageous alternative, the transmitter providing device isarranged to provide an identification code to a mobile device presentedto the transmitter providing device, and the mobile device with receivedidentification code is the transmitting device provided to the user.Preferably, the mobile device is a mobile telephone. Preferably, themobile device is arranged to communicate with the transmitter providingdevice using Bluetooth.

Preferably, the transmitting device is arranged to transmit theidentification code to the one of more of the receiving devices usingBluetooth.

Preferably, the user location determining device is arranged todetermine the location of the user using the strength of the signalreceived from the transmitting device by the one or more receivingdevices.

Advantageously, the area comprises a plurality of potential userlocations, and wherein the user location determining device is arrangedto determine the location of the user as one of the plurality ofpotential user locations.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of determining the location of a user in an area substantially asherein described with reference to any of FIGS. 1 to 8 of theaccompanying drawings.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided auser location system substantially as herein described with reference toany of FIGS. 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation toone aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into otheraspects of the present invention. For example, the method of theinvention may incorporate any of the features described with referenceto the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a user location system in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows the transmitter providing device of the user locationsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a transmitting device and a plurality of receiving devicesdistributed in an area of the user location system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the transmitting device of the user location system of FIG.1, and a plurality of seating locations within the area of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the transmitting device of the user location system of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transmitter providingdevice of the user location system of FIG. 1 when a user makes a foodorder;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the user locationdetermining device of the user location system of FIG. 1 when locating auser within the area of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIG. 8 shows a transmitter providing device in accordance with analternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A user location system in accordance with an embodiment of the inventionis shown in FIG. 1. In the present example the user location system 100is used to locate a user in a quick service restaurant, and the user isa customer making a food order in the quick service restaurant. However,it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to othersituations, including but not limited to other types of restaurant.

The user location system 100 comprises a transmitter providing device11, as described in more detail below. The transmitter providing device11 is in communication with a user location determining device 101,again as described in more detail below. The transmitter providingdevice 11 and user location determining device 101 may be incommunication via a local area network (LAN), for example. The LANconnection may be wired or wireless, for example via Wi-Fi.

The user location system 100 also comprises a plurality of receivingdevices 51 a to 51 g, which are able to receive radio signals. Thereceiving devices 51 a to 51 g are in communication with the userlocation determining device 101. The user location system 100 andreceiving devices 51 a to 51 g may be in communication via a LAN, whichmay be wired or wireless, or may be in communication via Bluetooth, forexample.

Finally, the user location system 100 comprises a transmitting device52, which transmits a radio signal 53 which is received by one or moreof the receiving devices 51 a to 51 g.

The transmitter providing device 11 of FIG. 1 is shown in more detail inFIG. 2. The transmitter providing device 11 comprises a store 12 oftransmitting devices of the type of the transmitting device 52, andproviding means (not shown) to provide transmitting devices from thestore 12 to a user via a dispensing slot 13. The transmitter providingdevice 11 also comprises a magnetic field producing device 14, such asan electromagnet, which generates a magnetic field 14 a whichencompasses the store 12. In other embodiments other means of generatinga magnetic field encompassing the store 12 can be used, for example aplurality of permanent magnets arranged around the store 12. Thetransmitter providing device 11 also comprises a radio receiver 15.

The transmitter providing device 11 is provided next to, and is incommunication with, a food ordering device 2. The food ordering devicecomprises a touch screen 3, using which a user can select various fooditems that they wish to order, and payment means 4, which can acceptcash and/or credit card payments or the like.

The area in which users can be located by the user location system 100is shown in FIG. 3. In the present example, the area 50 is the interiorof the quick service restaurant. As can be seen, the receiving devices51 a to 51 g are distributed in different locations around the area 50.In practice, they may be located on or within the ceiling of the quickservice restaurant, for example, or within walls or furniture, or inother locations in which they are able to receive radio signals. Inaddition, the transmitting device 52 is within the area 50, in alocation between the receiving devices 51 d, 51 e, 51 f and 51 g.

The area 50 is shown again in FIG. 4, but in this case showing aplurality of seating locations 55 a to 55 l within the area 50. As canbe seen, the transmitting device 52 is location within the seatinglocation 55 h, indicating that the user has seated themselves at a seatin the seating location 55 h.

The transmitting device 52 is shown in FIG. 5. The transmitting device52 comprises a radio transmitter 54 which generates the radio signal 53,under the control of a control circuit 56. The transmitting device 52also comprises a magnetic field detector 55. In practice thetransmitting device 52 may, for example, be formed of moulded plastic inwhich the radio transmitter 54, control circuit 56 and magnetic fielddetector 55 are embedded, which may for example have dimensions such as8 cm by 5 cm by 0.5 cm or the like. However, it will be appreciated thatvarious other forms and types of transmitting device could be used inother embodiments of the invention. The transmitting device 52 andcontrol circuit 56 may operate using the Bluetooth protocol, forexample.

The operation of the user location system 100 is now described withreference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 shows the operation of the transmitter providing device 11 when auser makes a food order. First, the user makes the food order using thefood ordering device 2 (step 201). The food ordering device 2 willassign an order number to the food order. The food order, including theorder number, is sent to the order system of the kitchen of the quickservice restaurant for preparation of the food order in the conventionalway.

In response to the food order being successfully made, the food orderingdevice 2 also sends an instruction to the transmitter providing device11 to provide a transmitting device to the user (step 202). Thetransmitter providing device 11 then uses its providing means to obtaina transmitter from the store 12, which in the present example is thetransmitting device 52 (step 203).

The transmitting device 52 is arranged so that unless the magnetic fielddetected by the magnetic field detector 55 is below a threshold, inparticular a threshold that is below the level of magnetic field 14 aencompassing the store 12 (as generated by the magnetic field generator14), no signals are transmitted by the radio transmitter 54. However,once the transmitting device 52 has been obtained from the store 12 bythe providing means, it will no longer be within the magnetic field 14 a(or more precisely, the magnetic field detected by the magnetic fielddetector 55 will be below the threshold). As a result, the controlcircuit 56 begins to cause the radio transmitter 54 to transmit a radiosignal 53. This radio signal includes, in particular, an identificationcode assigned to the transmitting device 52.

The identification code may have been assigned to the transmittingdevice 52 when it was first manufactured, i.e. it could be a uniqueidentification code associated with (only) the transmitting device 52.However, it will be appreciated that the identification code could beprovided in other ways in different embodiments of the invention, andcould for example be a temporary code generated on the fly, and could begenerated or obtained by the transmitter providing device 11 and thencommunicated to the transmitting device 52 as the transmitting device 52is provided to the user, for example.

As the transmitting device 52 begins to transmit the identificationcode, it is received by the radio receiver 15 of the transmitterproviding device 11 (step 204). The transmitter providing device 11 thensends the identification code to the user location determining device101 (step 205). It also sends the identification code to the foodordering device 2, which passes it to the order system of the kitchen sothat the order system knows that the identification code is associatedwith the order number.

The transmitter providing device 11 then provides the transmittingdevice 52 to the user, via the dispending slot 13 (step 206). Once theuser has the transmitting device 52, they move to one of the seatinglocations 55 a to 55 l within the area 50, and in particular, in thepresent example, to the seating location 55 h as shown in FIG. 4.

In order to be able to continue providing transmitting devices to users,the store 12 of the transmitter providing device 11 will need to bereplenished with transmitting devices. In a particularly advantageousembodiment, the transmitter providing device 11 is able to receivetransmitting devices inserted into the dispensing slot 13, which arethen added to the store 12. In embodiments of the invention, as atransmitting device is received in the dispensing slot 13 anidentification code is generated or obtained by the transmitterproviding device 11 and then communicated to the transmitting device 52,for it to use as its identification code when it is later used to locatea user.

FIG. 7 shows the operation of the user location determining device 101when locating a user within the area 50, and in particular in thepresent example the user provided with the transmitting device 52.First, as described above the user location determining device 101receives the identification code for the user from the transmitterproviding device (step 211). The user location determining device 101also receives the order number from the food ordering device 2.

In addition, one or more of the receiving devices 51 a to 51 g receivethe identification code transmitted by the transmitting device 52 (step212). In the present example, the one or more receiving devices thatreceive the identification code are the receiving devices 51 d, 51 e, 51f and 51 g closest to the transmitting device 52, once the user hasmoved to the seating location 55 h.

The receiving devices 51 d, 51 e, 51 f and 51 g then send details of thereceived identification code to the user location determining device 101(step 213). As well as including the identification code itself, thedetails sent include other details such as the time the identificationcode was received, the strength of the received signal, and thedirection from which the identification code is received if a receivingdevice is able to determine that (if it comprises multiple aerials, forexample).

The user location determining device 101 then uses the received detailsto determine the location of the transmitting device 52 (step 214). Itdoes this by considering only received details with the identificationcode of the transmitting device 52 (and not received details with anyother identification code, which may have been received from othertransmitting devices). The user location determining device 101 canthen, for example, use the locations of the receiving devices 51 d, 51e, 51 f and 51 g in the area 50, and the strengths of the signalreceived by each of the receiving devices, to determine where thereceived signals must have originated from, i.e. the location of thetransmitting device 52. The locations of the receiving devices 51 a to51 g, including the receiving devices 51 d, 51 e, 51 f and 51 g, can beprovided to the user location determining device 101 when the receivingdevices 51 a to 51 g are installed as part of the initial setup of theuser location system 100, for example.

Where there is a set of possible locations, e.g. the set of seatinglocations 55 a to 55 l, the user location determining device 101 candetermine the location of the user to be one of the set of possiblelocations, which can make the determination both more efficient and moreaccurate.—However, it will be appreciated that there will be variousdifferent ways in which the location determination can be performed indifferent embodiments of the invention.

Once the user location determining device 101 has determined thelocation of the transmitting device 52, it can provide this informationto the order system of the kitchen so that the food order can be takento the user. This may be done by the order system displaying the ordernumber and location on a display in the kitchen, or in any othersuitable way.

In certain advantageous embodiments, when the food order is ready thisis communicated to the user location determining device 101. The userlocation determining device 101 then communicates this to thetransmitting device 52 using the receiving devices 51 a to 51 g, forexample via a Bluetooth connection between the transmitting device 52and one or more of the receiving devices 51 a to 51 g. The transmittingdevice 52 can then provide a notification to the user that their orderis ready, for example using a light and/or vibration signalling meanscomprised in the transmitting device 52.

A transmitter providing device in accordance with another embodiment ofthe invention is shown in FIG. 8. As with the transmitter providingdevice 11 of the previous embodiment, the transmitter providing device21 of the present embodiment is provided next to, and is incommunication with, the food ordering device 2.

Unlike the transmitter providing device 11 of the previous embodiment,the transmitter providing device 21 of the present embodiment does notcomprise a store of transmitting devices for providing to users. Rather,the transmitter providing device 21 comprises a Bluetooth device 22, forcommunication with a mobile device such as a mobile telephone withBluetooth capability.

In use, rather than providing a transmitting device to a user from astore of transmitting devices, the user is asked to place a mobiledevice against the Bluetooth device 22 of the transmitter providingdevice 21. This may be via a message displayed by the food orderingdevice 2, for example. The transmitter providing device 21 then providesthe identification code to the mobile device using the Bluetooth device.

The identification code may be generated by the transmitter providingdevice 21 itself, or it may be obtained from elsewhere by thetransmitter providing device 21, and may simply be the order number. Inalternative embodiments, the mobile device provides the identificationcode to the transmitter providing device 21. In this case theidentification may be a unique code associated with the mobile device,with an application (“app”) installed on the mobile device for use withthe user location system, or with the user themselves.

The mobile device is then arranged to transmit the identification codeprovided by or to the transmitter providing device 21. In this way, themobile device becomes the transmitting device provided to the user, andcan then be located using by the user location determining device asdescribed above.

As described above, the mobile device may be arranged to provide anotification to the user when their order is ready. Where an app isinstalled on the mobile device for use with the user location system,the standard notification means of the mobile device may be used.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated withreference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to manydifferent variations not specifically illustrated herein.

For example, it will be appreciated that while various communicationprotocols and systems such as LAN, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have beendescribed, the present invention is not limited to the use of suchcommunication protocols and systems, and any other appropriatecommunication protocols and systems could be used, for examplenear-field communication (NFC).

It will in particular be appreciated that the present invention isapplicable to scenarios other than a quick service restaurant, includingbut other types of restaurant, retail stores providing aclick-and-collect service, or any other appropriate scenario.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentionedwhich have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then suchequivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope ofthe present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass anysuch equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader thatintegers or features of the invention that are described as preferable,advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit thescope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood thatsuch optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in someembodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore beabsent, in other embodiments.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of determining the location of auser in an area, using: a transmitter providing device located at afirst location, the transmitter providing device further comprising astore of a plurality of transmitting devices, wherein the transmitterproviding device generates a magnetic field that is above apredetermined threshold at locations within the store of transmittingdevices, and the transmitting devices are arranged to transmit anidentification code only when not within a magnetic field that is abovethe predetermined threshold; a plurality of receiving devicesdistributed in different locations within the area; and a user locationdetermining device in communication with the plurality of receivingdevices; wherein the method comprises the steps of: a user at the firstlocation requesting a transmitting device from the transmitter providingdevice; the transmitter providing device associating an identificationcode with the user; the transmitter providing device providing the userwith a transmitting device and communicating the identification codeassociated with the user to the transmitting device, wherein thetransmitting device transmits the identification code associated withthe user; the user moving to a second location with the transmittingdevice, the second location being within the area; one of more of thereceiving devices receiving the identification code transmitted by thetransmitting device; the one or more receiving devices sending detailsof the received identification code to the user location determiningdevice; and the user location determining device determining thelocation of the user, using the received details from the one or morereceiving devices.
 2. A user location system for determining thelocation of a user in an area, comprising: a transmitter providingdevice located at a first location, the transmitter providing devicefurther comprising a store of a plurality of transmitting devices,wherein the transmitter providing device generates a magnetic field thatis above a predetermined threshold at locations within the store oftransmitting devices, and the transmitting devices are arranged totransmit an identification code only when not within a magnetic fieldthat is above the predetermined threshold; a plurality of receivingdevices distributed in different locations within the area; and a userlocation determining device in communication with the plurality ofreceiving devices; wherein the transmitter providing device is arranged,in response to a request from a user for a transmitting device, toassociate an identification code with the user, and to provide the userwith a transmitting device and to communicate the identification codeassociated with the user to the transmitting device; wherein thetransmitting device is arranged to transmit the identification codeassociated with the user; wherein the plurality of receiving devices arearranged to receive the identification code transmitted by thetransmitting device, and to send details of a received identificationcode to the user location determining device; and wherein the userlocation determining device is arranged to determine the location of auser using received details from the one or more receiving devices.